SHE DID IT? Misprinted Clinton inauguration merchandise expected to be collector's items
WASHINGTON - As holiday shoppers searched for sales and the perfect gifts on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, presidential merchandise are hot sellers with the inauguration less than two months away.
After a slow start, White House Gifts in Washington D.C. said Donald Trump merchandise is selling well for them this holiday season. The Trump bobblehead is the store’s number one seller while the red “Make America Great Again” hats continue to sell at a good pace.
“He’s doing very well,” said Jim Warlick, the owner of White House Gifts. “It started this weekend so I think people are finally realizing he’s going to be the next president.”
Despite Hillary Clinton’s loss in the election, White House Gifts is still selling Clinton gear – even shirts, socks, cups, ribbons, dinner bells and other goods incorrectly printed with the phrase “She did it!” along with the 2017 inauguration date – at 25 percent off.
“The Hillary Clinton stuff will be collector’s items,” said Warlick. “And America, when they misprint a currency, it's worth more. When [George] McGovern chose [Thomas] Eagleton and dropped Eagleton off the ticket in 1972, they already printed McGovern-Eagleton buttons. Those were far more valuable than the regular buttons any way. Only in America can you bring in something that’s different and it can become a collectible.”
As for the outgoing president, Barack Obama remains popular with buyers overseas.
“Probably 30 percent of our customers are from overseas,” said Warlick. “They love Obama. They will buy anything we have.”
However, he’s not the best-seller in the Obama family.
“We realized Michelle [Obama] was more popular, so we brought in a legacy line for her and she is actually outselling him now,” Warlick told us.